How do you keep your emotional intelligence sharp?

Leadership begins with self-awareness, but how often do we truly train our EQ muscle?

It really takes me courage to face my own blind spots, and it's a continuous journey. It isn't easy, but each step of awareness makes me stronger.

Jennifer Brown reminds us: "Inclusive leaders take accountability for their own growth."

Jennifer Brown reminds us: "Inclusive leaders take accountability for their own growth."

Do you have the courage?

Blanchard's course Courageous Inclusion™ is an amazing starting point, building on Jennifer Brown's model to discover and address blind spots, offered as a one-day face-to-face or a 3-hour virtual course.

I'd love to hear from you. How do you keep your emotional intelligence sharp? Have you faced a blind spot recently? Let's share and learn from each other.

Ideas to train your emotional intelligence 

Practice Self-Awareness

• Regularly reflect on your emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. Consider journaling your experiences, noting what triggers certain feelings and how you respond.
• Mindfulness meditation can also help you become more aware of your emotional state, allowing you to recognize emotions before they escalate.

Seek Feedback from Others

• Ask trusted colleagues, mentors, or friends for honest feedback about how you handle emotions and interact with others.
• This feedback can help you identify blind spots in your self-awareness and social interactions, allowing you to adjust accordingly.

Develop Empathy by Active Listening

• Focus on truly listening to others without thinking about your response while they are speaking.
• Practice asking open-ended questions and try to see things from their perspective, which can improve your ability to connect with others on an emotional level.

Manage Stress Effectively

• High stress can negatively impact emotional regulation. Develop strategies like deep breathing, physical exercise, or time management techniques to cope with stress.
• By managing stress, you'll maintain better control over your reactions and interactions, which is essential for emotional intelligence.

Work on Emotional Regulation

• When you experience strong emotions like frustration or anger, pause before reacting. This could be as simple as counting to ten or taking a few deep breaths.
• Practice reframing negative thoughts to more positive or balanced ones, which helps you maintain a more constructive outlook and approach challenges with clarity.

Consistent practice in these areas helps ensure that your emotional intelligence remains sharp and adaptable, supporting better communication, stronger relationships, and more effective leadership.

And - by the way - it's a beautiful day in Denmark today, with the sun shining and autumn colors all around 😀 Love it!